*sigh*
It happens every
year around this time.
From May through
July, we watch the world turn green, green, and greener. Then, abruptly, it not
only stops turning but turns back around. You step outside one day, usually
first week of August, and notice that the foliage looks . . . stale. Tarnished.
Even though it is still, technically, green.
Once that’s
caught your attention, you look more closely and realize there’s a lot of
yellowing and browning going on among the wildflowers and gardens. As the
season advances, different species come into bloom in vivid colors that last
well into autumn; but around and between lies evidence of passing that it’s
easy to deny.
Around the second
week of August, you spot the first spear of red through the greenery backdrop. And
that’s when you notice that it’s dark by 9:00 p.m.
and no sunrise yet at 5:00 a.m.
A full hour of daylight has disappeared!—and continues to do so at an
accelerating rate.
Oh no!
Time to start preparing for winter!
But the snow only went away a few weeks ago!
This is the
bummer of living in a northern climate. Summer is so wonderful—and so short. A
wise neighbor once pointed out that our latitude in Vermont is the best place
in the world to live because we get eight months of fabulous weather.
Technically true, if you enjoy the outdoors. With the exception of a few sweaty
days per year, we get unbroken weeks of temperatures ideal for physical
activities. Temps in the 40s through 70s with mixed skies and precipitation are
most comfortable for moving around.
For folks who
like it hot and dry and bright—well, this is not the place to reside.
Liking a
temperate climate three seasons a year does not mean we like that fourth one of
cold and darkness. Winter is something to be endured unless you adore skiing,
snowmobiling, ice climbing, showshoeing, sledding, ice fishing, skating, or ice
racing. Even if that’s the case, you’re still limited in how many days the
conditions cooperate.
For those of us
who enjoy yard and garden work, and sports like camping/fishing/cycling/horse
riding/hiking/cruising/boating—or just having all the windows open or sitting
on the deck with a drink—the season is never long enough, and we’re always sad
to see it close.
The tarnishment
is our first sign that the clement days are numbered. And cue to make sure the
firewood is laid in, the chimney cleaned, the winter tires still have tread,
and anything that Absolutely Must Be Done before snow is taken care of.
